La Jota Vineyard Co. Howell Mountain Cabernet Franc US Napa Valley 2019 (14.1% ABV) — 94.7
SF | Rich near opaque colour; onyx; a fine veneer. Nose of ripe bilberry, sloe and cassis, hints of laurel and mint behind, that; all primary, all buttressed by a ripe, self confident texture; acidity and tannin both high and highly impressive. Fine balance and concentration; modern, demonstrative, but , all in all, very finely composed. A keeper. 94
DW | Dusky oak and real depth of dark fruit - a great deal of intensity, and hard to discern any Cab Franc varietal character; but the fruit is absolutely impeccable, the ample tannins very polished and fine with a core of creme de cassis sparking a great deal of pleasure through a long, long finish. Exceptionally high quality Napa red.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2032. 95
AR | A very deep brooding youthful red, this is very ripe and rich in aroma an plush underlay of vanilla oak and to taste, there's a lot going on here with plenty of mulberry fruit flavour and juicy supple, all underpinned by a stylish French oak spicy element, a detailed red combining all the elements of fruit, oak spice, texture and freshness in a really beautifully balanced, super-stylish red that's far too young at this point to drink but given two to three years will come into its own for a decade or longer. You will want to cellar this, I promise you.Drink Dates: 2024 - 2035. 95